Diablo 3

[Revolver]

First of all, the whole "sold out everywhere" thing was funny. Amazon wouldn't take more orders and play.com said "despatches in 1-4 weeks". Blizzard were charging £44.99 for the digital download. I just went n Asda on the way to work last week and asked if they had any copies, sure enough they did. £34.99 is still over priced though.

So Blizzard have been getting stick about the connection problems and having to be online. Other than a bit of lag - which in all honesty is a bit of a joke for a single player game - I've had no issues with connection at all.

It's a fun game and pretty much what was expected. A little stream lined with having no skill tree's like the originals. You learn moves for each "slot" (left click/right click and 1-4) as you level up which can be customised by runes which are again unlocked as you level. Simple or stream lined, I guess they are the same. It makes it very smooth though and you can try different things quite easily.

I've tried all the classes for a couple of levels except for Mage. My main is a monk who I've got to level 18. I played a Demon Hunter to level 9 and the others I have just fooled around on for literally half an hour. They're all pretty different which is good, the Witch Doctor is a bit of a pain but i imagine that class will get silly powerful once a few skills have been unlocked and some gear found.

It's worth noting as well that your gold level is constant across your account, rather than your character. Same goes for things like levelling the blacksmith. I like how that works, it makes life easier making new characters and will help reduce the grind a bit.

I'm sure co-op will be good but at the moment, as the Social Pane keeps reminding me "You have no friends". Which is very blunt

One thing with the retail copy is I have two access cards that have a key code that will allow you to play for free up to the first boss - the Skeleton king. If anyone fancies a bash then let me know and I'll sort the code with you.

[skeletor]

Have a feeling there are too many things going on for me. I didn't get on well with FFXI due to having too much to look over, same with Command & Conqueror.

Also don't like the fact that you must be connected to the internet just to play the single player, but sounds like that is needed to keep your gold etc up to date.

Note: I haven't played any of the Diablo games so I may be well off the mark on the 'too many things going on' comment.

[Revolver]

You don't need time for Diablo, you just lose it

It's hack'n'slash all the way. Plot is thin with very minor character progression, levelling up is akin to WoW. You 'ding' up and get a new skill, no stats to allocate or points to spend (which WoW did actually have).. It's no final fantasy that's for sure.

Just smash, smash loot.

[skeletor]

So what's the big draw to the game? I know everyone loves Diablo II and that it is 'the' RTS game. Ars said that D3 is a rehash of D2 with better graphics.

[Revolver]

I don't know, there is just something fun about it. Something that works. Massive variation in enemies and tactical fights, good co op and eventually there will be PvP. On paper it sounds like it should get boring, but it doesn't. Doing Hell (I think that's the hardest, or possibly inferno) runs with mates can be great fun.

Also, try playing a hardcore character. Yes it really is called Hardcore. Basically you tick that box when you create your character and if you die that is it. Dead. No resurrect or anything. All that happens is if you're in multiplayer your friends loot your corpse lol!

[skeletor]

Hardcore mode sounds a bit...well shit to be honest. If you are highly levelled as you die just like that....it's like playing Sonic on the SEGA Master System and losing your last life due to some fucking moving platform that you fell off.

I would say I would give it a go but I think I will try and complete FFX and FFXII again before I start any new games (value for money!)

CS:GO/Borderlands 2 will probably be my next purchase.

April I bought loads of books.
May I bought a CD, need to save the pennies for June when who knows what will happen.

[skeletor]

Secret 'cow' level.



I have read posts on Diablo 3 on another forum and to be honest, I wouldn't buy it.

People not being able to play a single player game due to servers being down and random disconnects and lag...within a single player game. Quite frankly is ridiculous.

[Revolver]

Well read into what you will, I've not had any problems. Personally I think people are whining bitches. Not to mention the only reason it's been done this way is because the system got exploited so much in Diablo 2. I think it is a good thing because at least you know you'll be up against legit opposition.

[skeletor]

Borderlands was too but there were more than enough genuine people in it which meant the hackers weren't a problem. If you did get fed up, you were still able to play single player or private co-op without relying on them having their servers up (which did cause its own problems early on).

You moaned about lag earlier on which just shouldn't happen for any reason in a single player game.

[Revolver]

Borderlands was too but there were more than enough genuine people in it which meant the hackers weren't a problem. If you did get fed up, you were still able to play single player or private co-op without relying on them having their servers up (which did cause its own problems early on).

You moaned about lag earlier on which just shouldn't happen for any reason in a single player game.

Yeah I had a little bit at first but that's it really. They should have got the servers right first time around. There is a benefit to perma online though in that you can drop in and out of friends games easily. I suppose when I think about it though, there should be an offline mode. Problem is all the mobs and drops etc are done server side, not client.

They should have just advertised it as a multiplayer online game, then there wouldn't be a problem. It is meant to e played MP after all.